Management of an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the medical intensive care unit of a cancer center

Authors
Hanna, H Umphrey, J Tarrand, J Mendoza, M Raad, I
Citation
H. Hanna et al., Management of an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in the medical intensive care unit of a cancer center, INFECT CONT, 22(4), 2001, pp. 217-219
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health
Journal title
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
ISSN journal
0899823X → ACNP
Volume
22
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
217 - 219
Database
ISI
SICI code
0899-823X(200104)22:4<217:MOAOOV>2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
Between November 1996 and February 1997, 17 episodes of vancomycin-resistan t enterococci (VRE) infection or colonization (9 infections, 8 colonization s), all with the same or a similar genomic DNA pattern, were identified in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) of a tertiary-care cancer hospital. The cases were genotypically traced to a patient who was admitted to the ho spital in September 1996 and who, by December 1996, had four different admi ssions to the MICU. Multifaceted infection control measures, including deco ntamination of the environment and of nondisposable equipment, halted the n osocomial transmission of VRE in the MICU.